Paper-bag machine.



No. 860,042. I PATENTED JULY 16,1907.

w. A. LORENZ PAPER BAG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1905.

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No. 860,042. PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

' W. A. LORENZ.

PAPER BAG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1906.-

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No, 860,042. PATENTED'JULY 16, 1907.

w. A. LORENZ.

PAPER BAG MACHINE.

. APPLIOATION IILED MAY 31. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. 67 6' w Inventor W K W Zailliam 29. [07 6722 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. LORENZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNION PAPER BAG MACHINE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

PAPER-BAG MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1907.

Application filed May 31, 1905. Serial No. 263,027-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. LORENZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper- Bag Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to paper bag machines of the class which form square-bottom bags from bellowssided tubes or blanks; and it has to do particularly with what is well-known as the diamond forming operation.

The invention is applicable to that type of machine which forms the diamond by turning backward one of the plies of the-blank over a folding plate, while the other ply is suitably gripped upon a traveling support.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front view of a machine embodying the present invention, a part of it being shown in section on the line 11 of Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a view of the left hand side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a top view with a few of the parts omitted. Fig. 4 is a sectional side view on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the oscillating devices of the folding plate in section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6, 8 and 10 are fragmentary side views and Figs.

7 9 and 11 corresponding front views of the folding de-' vices in three successive stages of the diamond forming operation, Figs. 10 and 11 showing the position of the parts on the completion of the diamond.

The machine may receive its motion in any suitable way, by being geared to the other portions of the machine, or by means of a pulley on the end of the shaft 18 (Fig. 2). The blank B is received between the rolls 15 and 16 (Fig. 4) from any suitable tube-forming and cutting-off mechanism. The rolls 15 and 16 are secured respectively to the shafts 17 and 18 journaled in bearings 19 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the uprights 11 and 12 secured to the base 10. The bearings 19 of the shaft 17 are pressed towards the bearings of the lower shaft 18 by means of springs 22. Gears 20 and 21 connect the two shafts.

Disposed adjacent to the two feed rolls 15 and 16 and in such position that the blank as it moves forward will pass beneath it, is the guide plate 28 (Fig. 4) having supporting lugs 29 through which passes the rod 30 secured at its ends in the uprights 11 and 12. It is the function of this plate to guide the top ply of the blank so that it will not rise too high to properly meet the folding devices.

On opposite sides of the path of the blank and a little in front of the guide plate 28 are the two lifting fingers 34. The function of these fingers is to-enter the side tucks of the blank and lift the upper ply into engagement with the folding plate 61, and they are mounted the lug 109 is appurtenant to the bracket 71.

to swing towards and from the blank on the lines indicated by the dot-and-dash arrows of Fig. 1. These fingers 34 are secured to shafts 35 (Figs. 1, 3' & 4) mounted for oscillation in bearings 36 appurtenant to the brackets 70 and 71, which are supported on the standards 72 and 73 secured to the base 10. To each shaft 35 is secured a bevel gear 37 which meshes with a bevel gear 38 secured to the cross shaft 40 supported in bearings 39 extending from the brackets 70 and 71. The cross shaft 40 is provided at one end with an arm 41 to which is connected a rod 42 which extends to and straddles the shaft 17 by means of the forked end 43 (Fig. 4). A pin or roll 44 is secured to the connecting rod 42 and fits in the path 33 of the traveling cam 32 secured to the shaft 17.

The oscillating folding plate 61 (Figs. 4 & 5) which turns back the upper ply of the blank is secured to a bar 64 having trunnions 65 and 66 which are mounted for oscillation in the brackets 70 and 71. A holder 63 is secured to the plate 61 near its front end and retains the center of the front end of the upper ply in place.

The plate 61 is oscillated by means of the pinion 86 secured to the trunnion 65 and meshing with'the segment gear 87 (Fig. 5). The latter is secured to the shaft 88 journaled in the bracket 70 and has an arm 89 provided with a roll 91 which fitsin the cam path 90 formed in the inner face of the rotating cam 92 secured to the shaft 49.

The folding plate 61 is provided with a pair of box holders 101 (Fig. 1) pivoted at 102 in lugs 103 appurtenant to the trunnioned bar 64. The box holders are operated by rods 104 which extend through holes in the centers of the trunnions 65 and 66, and are connected at one end to the box holders 101 and at the other end to the levers 106 and 107, by ball and socket joints which permit the box-holders 101 to oscillate with the plate 61. The levers 106 and 107 are sup ported respectively in'lugs 114 and 109 by pivots 108, the lug 114 being appurtenant to the upright 11 while The levers have cam rolls 110 which fit the cam paths 111 and 112 formed in the rotating cams 92 and 93 secured to the central shaft 49, journaled in bearings 46 and 47 in the uprights 11 and 12, respectively. Motion is imparted to the shaft 49 by means of the gear 50 (Fig. 2) secured to its outer end and meshing with the pinion 24 which in turn is driven by the gear 21, the pinion 24 being mounted on a stud 25 appurtenant to the upright 12. Springs 113 are preferably provided for the levers 106 and 107 to prevent back-lash.

The rotating blank support 48 which supports the blank B and carries it forward during the diamond forming operation is secured to the central shaft 49.

The blank support 48 is provided with one or more sets of gripping and holding devices which rotate with it and hold the lower ply of the blank in proper position on the blank support while the upper ply is being turned back. The present machine has two sets of these devices which operate alternately on the blanks and as the two sets are substantially identical only one set will be described.

The center of the front end of the lower ply is held to the blank support 48 by the front diamond holder 51 (Fig. 4) which is pivoted at 52 to the blank support and has an arm 53 provided with a roll 54 held by the spring 55 in engagement with the stationary cam 56 (Fig. 1) which, with the left hand .cams 97 and 141 (which will be referred to later) is secured to the standard 73, the central shaft 49 passing through the Center of each of these cams. The tuck holders 94 which enter the side tucks of the blank and hold the edges of the lower ply to the blank support are pivoted at 95 on opposite sides of the blank support and are provided with rolls 96 which are held in engagement with the fixed came 97 by the spring 98, preferably extending from one tuck holder to the other.

Each set of gripping and holding devices of the blank support 48 includes also a pair of defining blades 131 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are disposed on opposite sides of the blank support and operate to approximately define the cross-fold line along which the upper ply is folded back to form the diamond. The two defining blades 131 have a swinging movement which carries them into and out of engagement with the upper ply of the blank, and a reciprocating movement which raises and lowers the blades relative to the adjacent surface .of the blank support, thus enabling them to approximately define the cross-fold line of the diamond. Each blade is secured to a shaft 132 which is mounted for both oscillating and reciprocating movement in the brackets 133 and 134 appurtenant to the blank support. The bracket 132 forms a plain bearing in which the shaft 132 is free to slide endwise, while the bracket 134 forms a journal for the pinion 135 to which theshaft 132 is splined. Thus, rotative movement of the pinion is communicated to the shaft while endwise movement of the latter does not affect the pinion. The oscillating movement is communicated to the shaft 132 by means of the bevel section 136 which meshes with the pinion 135 and is pivoted on the stud 137 appurtenant to the blank support. The sector 136 is provided with an arm 138 having a cam roll or pin 139 which travels in the cam path 140 (Fig. 5) formed in the stationary cam 141 secured to the standard 72, in the case of the devices on the right hand side of the blank support, and to the standard 73, in the case of those on the left hand side.

To impart the reciprocating motion to the defining blades 131, each shaft 132 is provided with a rack 143 preferably made integral with the shaft, and meshing with a segment gear 144 pivoted on a stud 145 appurtenant to the blank support. The teeth of the rack 143 are extended somewhat to permit the turning movement of the shaft 132. The segment gear 144 has an arm 146 which carries a roll or pin 147 which travels in the path 148 formed in the cam 141 (Fig. 5).

The flattening plate 116 (Fig. 2) which flattens the diamond after it is opened out to the position shown in the final movement of completing the diamond.

Fig. 10, is carried by the lever 117 pivoted on the stud 118 secured to the upright 11. The end of the lever is provided with a roll 119 held in engagement with the cam 120 by the-spring 121. The cam 120 is secured to the shaft 122 journaled in the uprights 11 and 12 and carrying the gear 123 which is driven by the gear 50 through the pinion 124.

The consecutive operation of the machine is as follows:The blank B properly formed and cut to length is fed between the rolls 15 and 16 (Fig. 2) and passes under the guide plate 28. As it moves forward, the fingers 40 are swung into the side tucks thus lifting the upper ply of the blank B, to the folding plate 61, the front end of the upper ply passing at the same time between the plate 61 and the holder 63, thus holding the front end to the folding plate. Meanwhile the blank has been gripped to-the blank support 48 by the closing of the front diamond holder 51 over the lower ply. The tuck holders 94 now swing into the side tucks and grip the lower ply to the blank support 48 at the lower inside corners of the diamond, while the box holders 101 also swing into the side tucks and grip the upper ply to the folding plate 61 at the upper inside corners of the diamond. The folding plate 61 now swings 011 its trunnions from the position shown in Fig. 3, through the positions of Figs. 6 and 8 to that of Fig. 10, carrying the upper ply with it and folding it back as shown in those figures. At the same time the defining plates 131, which are in their uppermost position relative to the adjacent cylindrical surface of the blank support, are swung in towards the blank till their edges engage the upper ply as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. The plates then move downward until they are close to the surface of the blank support 48 as shown in Fig. 8, by which time the folding plate 61 has carried the upper ply over to the position shown in that figure. As the folding plate 61 continues to swing backward the defining blades 131 rise slightly from the surface of the blank support in position to define the cross-fold line of the upper ply as shown in Fig. 10. This rising movement of the blades 131 releases the paper from the blank support at the cross fold line and allows it to rise with the blades, so that it may extend in a substantially straight line from the box holders to the tuck holders upon the completion of the diamond. The paper is thus allowed to adjust itself to the increasing separation of the box holders and the tuck holders due to the forward movementof the blank support, and is therefore relieved of the undue strain to which it would be subjected were it held rigidly to the surface of the blank support at the cross fold line during The flattening plate 116 now presses the folds down to place as the blank passes forward, and suitable deflecting and transporting devices, not shown, carry it from the blank support, the front diamond holder 51 releasing its hold in time to permit this operation.

Although it is considered preferable to provide two defining blades, located on opposite sides of the blank support, as in the construction shown in the drawings, it is obvious that a single blade may be made to suffice, particularly in making the smaller sizes of bags. Nor is it essential that the defining blade be carried on the blank support. It may be mounted independent of the blank support, if arranged to-suitably oscillate in connection therewith. Or, it may be mounted in many other ways which will give it the requisite movements, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The axes on which the defining members are swung into and out of their operative positions, are at an angle, and are preferably as herein shown, substantially at right angles, to the defining edges of the members, so as to enable them to swing outside of the lateral edges of the blank while passing by those edges. For this purpose the members are made to swing about 90 degrees toward the left from their operative positions shown in Fig. 3. Also, the axis of swing of the defining blade need not intersect the extension of the defining edge, as herein shown, but may be placed at one side or the other thereto, as may be required to suit the environment or other conditions of service.

In my application Serial No. 263,026, filed contemporaneously herewith, I have shown, described, and claimed certain combinations which are shown and described, but not claimed in this application. In so far as this application shows novel features in common with said other application, it is to be regarded as being subordinate thereto.

I claim as my invention 1. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a traveling blank support, a defining member having a defining edge and mounted for swinging movement on an axis substantially perpendicular to the defining edge, to carry the said edge against the upper ply of the blank between the position of the transverse fold. line and the month end of the blank, cooperating devices for turning back the upper ply of the blank to form the diamond, .and means for moving the defining edge along the surface of the said upper ply toward the positionof the transverse fold line as the said ply is turned backwardly.

2, In a paper bag machine, the combination .of a rotating blank support, a defining member having a defining edge, means for swinging the defining edge into engage ment with the upper ply of the blank on an axis substan-'- tially perpendicular to the defining edge, means for swinging the defining edge forward on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the blank support, means for moving the defining member in a direction lengthwise of the said axis, and cooperating devices to form the diamond.

3. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a traveling blank support, devices for turning back the upper ply of a blank carried by the support, to form diamond folds therein, a defining member mounted on the blank support for swinging movement and having a defining edge engaging with the upper ply of the blank between the position of the transverse fold line and the mouth of the blank, means for moving the defining member in a direction lengthwise of its axis, and along the said upper ply toward the posi tion of the said transverse fold line, as the ply is turned backwardly.

4. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a traveling blank support, means for securing the lower ply of a blank to the surface of the blank support, means for turning back the upper ply of the blank to form the diamond folds, a transverse fold defining member mounted for swinging movement upon the blank support, and provided with a defining edge, which is carried by the said swinging movement into engagement with the said upper ply at a substantial distance above the said surface of the blank support, and means for moving the said defining member toward the said blank support and along the said ply toward the position of the transverse fold line as the said upper ply is turned backwardly.

5. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a rotary blank support, means for securing the lower ply of a bag blank thereto, means for turning back the upper ply of the blank to form the diamond folds, a transverse fold defining member mounted for swinging movement upon the blank support, and having a defining edge engaging with the outer surface of said upper ply at a substantial distance above the surface of the blank support and from the position of the transverse fold line, and means for moving the said defining member toward the said surface, and along the said ply to the position of the transverse fold line, as the said upper ply is turned backwardly.

6. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a rotary blank support, means for securing the lower ply of a blank to the surface of the said support, means for engaging and turning back the upper ply of the blank to form the diamond fold therein, a pair of oppositely disposed defining members mounted for swinging movement upon the blank support, upon opposite sides of the blank, and provided with defining edges carried by the said swinging movement against the upper ply of the blank at a substantial distance above the said surface and away from the position of the transverse fold line, and means for moving the defining members toward the said surface of the blank support and along the said upper ply to the position of the said transverse fold line as the upper ply is turned backwardly.

7. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a rotary blank support provided with tuck holders, means, including a folding plate and cooperating box holders for engag ing and turning back the upper ply of the blank to form the diamond fold, a transverse fold defining member mounted upon the blank support for swinging movement toward and against the upper ply of the blank adjacent to the said box holders, and means for moving the said defining member along the said upper ply to the position of the transverse fold line, as the said ply is turned backwardly.

S. In a paper bag machine, the combination of a rotary blank support provided with tuck holders, means including a folding plate and box holders to engage and turn back the upper ply of the blank to form the diamond folds, and a pair of defining members mounted for swinging movement upon the blank support on opposite sides of the blank, each having a defining edge carried by the said swinging movement against the said upper ply adjacent to the said box holders, and means for moving the said defining edges along the said ply to the position of the transverse fold line, as the said upper ply is turned backwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' WILLIAM A. LORENZ.

Witnesses JANETTE S. ELLSWORTH, HANS MALLNER. 

